Multiple die for postage meter machines



Aug. 16, 1927.

A. H. PlTNEY MULTIPLB'DIE FOR POSTAGE MET ER MACHINES Filed June 19,1923 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a Menu 5 Aug. 16, 1927.

A. H. PITNEY MULTIPLE DIE FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES Filed June 19, 19233 Sheets-Sheet 2 atroamu s Aug. 16,1927. 1,639,384

A. H. PITNEY MULTIPLE DIE FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES Filed June 19, 19233 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4. ,312

dlllllllll llllllllllllll Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNETED stares PATENT: orr cs.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECKBICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO PITNEY-BOWES POSTAGE METER COMPANY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTI-OUT, A CORPORATION DELAWARE.

niuiTLPLE 'DIE mt I OSTAGE- METER MACHINES.

- aii iieatimlia edqu 19, 12 3. ,Seria1 1a)., 546,443,

This iIlVPllthILlS av novel improvement n postage meter machines of thetype shown in my Patent $1,370,66Sfdatd DIM-ch 8;

1920, and in particular upon the postage meter shown in my applicationforpatent,

Serial No. 647,143. lilezl June 22, 1923.

In the latter application I have shown a simple novel portable potigemeter machine which will enable the user tosbllyauy desired amount cfprepaid postage from the Government-and printsuch postage from s timetotime on hisinail in various quantit es and amounts as "desired,until-the total amount of postagq'foir which he has paid is exhausted;whereupon the printing and registering mesh fisms will automaticallybelocked so that no. more postmark stamps can be printed gnti l th emachine pr meter is reset. F01; this p urg io' se themeter, or. the

entire printing mechanism, and m eter, may be bodily detachedjfom: thesealmg mech anism and take-.1 as awhole tothegpostpfiice for re-sett';g, substantially as described in my aforesaid pqtentgand appll catlon,The

25 meter or printingsmechanism andgmeter 'can be replaced a Hit further,s ealingtand prmts p em the. pafernq m t l h amount .of postage pa d -fols agami ext r'- shi v 1' 5,2" The princ'pal object of the present 1nvention. isto providea multipierfaced fdiQJVhlCll can-be used intheaforesaidmachines' orv in other-.po stagefn eter, machmesg and to furthen proi/ide-mcans where l)y y, 9 of! the faces of such: d ie canbeoperatiyely positioned in the nrcteigfto imprint a stamp ofcorresponding denomination or-yalue on the letter; and :furtheg toprovide means in such meteu whereby the amount-of thedenomma tion of anystamp imprinted-by such die-will be simultaneously 1 nd automaticallyregis-' teredjn the metelx g Q To. enable others. to adopt; and use thein vent-ion I will explain- .it wit-h.- refereneeto the accompanyingdrawings which-illustrate one practical embodimentthereof, andthereafter set-forth in the claims the-essentials of the invention andthe novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts forall of which protection is desired.

In said drawings: v

Fig. l is a. front side elevatiou of the Y printingincchanisnfof themachine shown inmy afoz'esaid application, with the novel iu' lt-ipledie. and' registering mechanism therein.

.Fig'. 2 :s-v. lODQitllillIltll detail section through the meter drumshowing parts of the register adjusting and locking n1echanzs n.

Fig. 3is a transverse section on the line 2- gliig. 4 is a-side \-'ie\v'ofrthe multiple tice d die meter; f Fiis detailhsection thereof on theuse 5 5, Fig. 4. r ifig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6,

f'j 7 is an end view of the multiple 'QFigLiSjslai-sidenview-ofsuchidie. n ig. 9 is an opposite end View of such die.The completemachine shown in my aforesaid application includesvn'ieansforopening and moistcning theflapof a letter and sealmgsame, and'meansfor" printing a prepaid postage stamp thereupon and simultaneouslyregistering the amount of stamps so.printed. 'lhe postmark st'a i np.printing and registeringginiechanism i v.as shown in my aforesaid:ippli'cationlciirrbeliandled as a unit, and-.as indicated in F 1; it ismounted onasuitable,,:f1'amecomprising: a I base plate, 100?; whichisdetachably attached t;o'- thebase 01: support 3, From the rc arrside ofthis plate 1 OQ rises a stander-r1100 to theupper sideof which isattached one end of aparti-cylim dric hood or shell 10:' tothe outer endof which is attached a front plate 105. spindle-2 13 is supported atoneend in the plate l 05, and its qtherend is supported in a plate gi l tliig 2). attachecl to the-inside of the pIate lQO by screws 214;v saidshaft 21?,haying a recess in the plate2lak and fastened or keyed tosaidplate so that the spindle 213 cannot rotate.

Upon spindle is rotnt-ably;mounted what Lternrn meter, dram containingas cending and descending registering mecha nisms, and carrying tizczzovel multiple die.

As shown in said application and in Figs. 24L the mctcrdrum consists oftwo circular end plates 520T- and 208,.and an intermediate headj2l3?.-engaging.. a

justahlv mounted in said meter' 'drnm"as herein: or described, and ateach effect ve rotation of the nieterdrnm (meet the printing faces ofsaid die l ig. l) cooperates'with an impression roller 103 (Fig. 1) toimprint an cn 'elope,

.j'To the meter drum is sc -"red a iea'r 215, i-ich meshes w1tli a gearll5'attached to stub shaft 114',

concentric withslia ft 213,

' journalecl in the piate 10a; and to this'jshaft is attached ah andle114 by whicli itlc'an be. manually turned; so as to cause: gears -115zind'21 5 to turn the drum. 'Vvhen tlieparts are in proper workingcondition postmark stamp will be printed at each eilectinerqtationpf themeter drum.

- -YVit-hin the meter drum .is mounted anescending counter or totalregister, indicated at Tf'and a balance'count er' ondescending registerindicated at B. These iegisters may be of anfFsuitable/type, butare'preferably of thetj'pe described in"i i iy; applioatio ncasefiledJulyI12; 1922, Serial No. 5%;427, and case. filednDeceniber 12,"1922 Serial No. 606427. Suitable ge aring is"p ro vide'd, asiindicatedin Figs? and' 3, whereby for each rotation of the meter drum'the unitswheels of the registers T and are respec given operated in accordance'witli 'the denomination of the postmark stamp' p'r'inted; eachnnitwheelbeing movedbne point for. a' )5 stamp or two points for :2 "2(- stamp,ctcr, whereby for each rotation of the meter drum the proper extent ofmotion is imparted to the units wheel gears of the respcctireregisters.The total sum .of the postmark stamp :HTPIOFSEOHS made is registered in'ascending progression on'the total counter or ascending register T; andthe amountfof'each postmail: made is subtracted .in "descendingprogression on the balance counter or descending register B.

-The parts thus far described are substan tial'ly'" constructed andarranged to operate as described in my aforesaid application, Serial No.647,-143,'e.\'cept tlie mnltipleklie and the means for changing theratio of the gearing" for actuating' the registers. In the presentini-ention a multiple changeable or variable die'i's used in the meterdrum and means are provided whereby the registers are actuated inaccordance with the denomination of that face of the die which is adjusted'to'opcratii'e or printing position.

The multi ile faced die 308 as shown has three printing faces 1, 2, 4engraved on the three sides of a triangular shapedbody 308, each stamphaving a different denomination (for 1, 12 and 495). Each die face isapproximately rectangular; in form and bears all themarksgofidentification required by the "Government.

The die 308 is fast to a spindle 310 rot-atably mounted' in' beairingsin a suitable frame or y. castin 315 secured wi his. the meter driiiniiwfiiiid in such position that one printing face ,of t-he die 308 willhe presented in position printing through an Olf ilillgiln' ,5 1 1-1 rTh spi dl 3. .0

ay behtin'ned by a 'e asing 312 as SliOWIi gan s.

equidistant fi orii s aft 310, 'ii-liicliopenings are adapted' to'beLen'ga' edby sliding bolts 31 whichfare. nd"; Ty su ared in the brackets315 5,6 1 id :ireattaciied; to}! member 313 iiIHicli is slid'ablef onihespindle310 and attached to, a brie-$ 311;

which is slid'aible' withinth casing-312; and

As sli'o'n'in la 's cren'z 3 1;1 through a 's'lot31-2 'iii thflcain fifnengages ni'it 31 l fast' tdthe-"plat'e; ai1iineibmcaing this bolt the 3lllcan -b adjusted e'ridiv'ise ofQtlie drum so as to ro e'tit the bong3'1 P-into engagement ii ith"bfiiniigsv308" s'o?'s tbclocl t the'jdi'ein; any adjil'stedposition'or the bolt. can he ret'ra'ctedftb*disriIgfi' the die, and permit :It to'be' nit-mesons toa'djnst'thidesired printing surface at the periphery of the drumfi r-ase. i

\Vhen thgbolts 314 are retracted to release the die'they simultaneouslyengage sockets 1'05: in the hood105, thereby loosing the drumaga-instrotation while the die is being shifted, and thereby preventingany improper turning of the drum.

The register in'the drum must be actuated in accordance with thedenomination of that printing surface of the die which is at printingposition and means-are provided whereby tiie'adjustment"0f the dieautomatically effects adjustment of the variable gearing between't-liespindle 213- or'iivhich the drum menntedand the registeringdeviceswithin"tlie -drum so that the latter will be operated for each rotationof thedrum in exact accordance with the denomination of "the stampto'printed by the die. In the construction shown this mechar'sm is as fol;lows:

n intermittent gear 301, FigsgZ and 3, slidably -mounted' (but notrotatably) on die to "Tl'1'e die can be shaft 213'and has three sets ofteeth on its periphery, one set consisting of four equally spaced teeth301, the second set having two equally spaced teeth 301", and the lasthaving only one tooth 301. A follower gear 302 is pinned to shaft 303and has ten equally spaced stops cut in its periphery and ten notchesadapted to engage with the teeth oftlie intermittent gear301. A gear 304(Figs. 2 and 3) is also pinned to shaft 303 and'revolves in unisonwiththe follower gear 302. Gear 304 is directly in mesh with the unitsspindle gear'305 of the balance counter B, and through an intermediategear 306 drives the spindle gear 506 of the total counter T. 1' Y A cam307 is loosely mounted on a spindle 328 and'has a peripheral cam 307provided with three cam portions and three dwell portions. This cam 307is-of gear toothy-form in cross section and it engages a groove 301 cutin the periphery of the hub 301 of the gear 301. When the cam 307 isturned it slides the intermittent gear 301 on shaft 213 into variouspositions of engagement with the follower gear 302. The cam 307 isrotated to its various positions in accordance with the position of thedie 308 by means of a gear 307 fastened to cam 307 and gearing with anintermediate" 309 which is driven by gear 308 pinned to the spindle 310to which the die 308 is keyed. 7

On each face of the die 308-is' engraved a postmark stamp of anysuitable design, or

* similar to that shown in Fig. 4, except that the denominations (whichmay be 1, 2 or 4) difier. Vhen it is desired to change the denominationof the post-mark stamp to be printed the screw 311 Fig. '6, is loosenedand plate 311 slid away from' the die 308, clearing its path ofrotation, and withdrawing bolts 314 (Fig. 5) from the die 308 enteringthem into holes 105. thereby locking the meter drum against rotation.Spindle 310 is then turned clockwise revolving the die 308 until thedesired denomination of stamp appears in printing position. As the dieis thus shifted gear 308 is turned thereby and through the intermediategear 309, and gear 307* causes the cam 30? to be revolved clockwise, andthis cam in so turning moves the intermittent gear 301 to the left,until the twotooth section of the gear 301 is alined with the followergear 302: thereby changing the driving ratio between gear 301 and thefollower gear 302 from four to two.

Every time the drum 300 makes one revolution the follower gear 302 iscaused to revolve in a planetary motion about the gear 301, and (as insuch position of gear 301 only two teeth on gear 301 will engage thefollower gear 302) cause gear 302 to he turned two tenths of onerevolution; and this motion is transmitted to the counter spindle bygears 304 and 305, and thus the counter units wheel is turned two tenthsof one revolution, or two units.

It is obvious that by properly changing the ratio between gear 301 andgear 302 in this manner, any denomination of die may be used, and theexact amount thereof will be accurately registered on the counter ateach operation of. the machine.

The-counter is preferably of the geared type, as described in myaforesaid applica tions and the method of locking, sealing andrecharging the meter has been described in my said patent andapplication, and needs no further explanation here.

In each'working face of the multiple die is a slot 317 and a rod 316 ispassed through a hole in the die 308 adjacent each face 1, 2, 4 andintersecting the adjacent slot 317. This rod 316 has a handle 316 on oneend and when the handle isin down position (Figs 4, 6,.- .9) the rodprotrudes into the slot 317 and the rod may be held in this position-bya ball and spring catch indicated at 316. A flat is milled on one sideof the rod and parallel to the handle 316*, and when 'the hand l israised this flat registers with the slot 317 and will-admit the sluginto the slot.'

A date and hour. slug 318 is removably fitted in slot 317, said slughaving a groove cut in its side which aligns with the rodv 316 When-theslug' is in theslot '317. When handle 316is turned to the down positionthe rod 316 (Figs. 6 and 8) engages the groove in the slug and preventsit coming out. The permit slug may be placed in a suitable slot. in thedie and fastened by means of a screw. This however forms no part'of thepresent invention.

The meter drum is limited to rotation in one direction, as described inmy said application. by any suitable means, so that it cannot. be turnedbackward and improperly alter the registration of impressions made.

Means are provided, as described in my aforesaid patent and application,whereby when the amount of prepaid postage for which the descendingcounter has been set is exhausted. the registering mechanism is lockedand further effective printing operations are prevented.

in Fig. 2 I have indicated the descending counter which is similar tothat shown in prior applications, and comprises a series of numeralwheels 251. each of which is provided with a slot adapted to be engagedby a tooth 250 on a locking plate 250, which plate is normally pressedtoward the wheels by springs 250 The units wheel of this series is fixedto the shaft or gear 305 so as to be rotated thereby; and the unitswheel carries over to the tens wheel; the tens carries over to thehundreds: and so on, described in my aforesaid applications.-

A handle 250* (Figs. 2 and 3) is fastened to one side of the lockingcomb 250, and has :1 lug 250" projecting oppositely to the teeth 250.Said lug-normally projects into the path of a lug on a lever 252 (Whenthe meter is charged or in operative position), which lever is pivotedon a suitable support within the meter drum and engages a slidablelocking bolt 253, which is mounted in the meter drum and is adapted tobe projected into en gagement with a socket in plate 214 and when soengaged will prevent rotation of the meter drum. The bolt 253 isnormally held in retracted position by the engagement of the lever 252-with. the finger 250", all as shown and described in my aforesaidapplication. Butwhcn all the registering wheels 251 in the descendingmeter B reach zer-o" so that all the fingers 250 in the locking plate250 can enter the correspond ingnotches in such registering wheels (asdescribed in my aforesaid applications) the springs 250 swingszthe':plate 250 toward the registering I wheels and thus withdraws thefinger-250' out of'thepath of the" lug 252", whereupon the springactuated lever 252 projectsfbolt 2 fi3' intoposition to lock the meterdrum to the-main frame 100 and prevent t'nrther rotation loiithemeterdrum until the" bolt is r'e-tracted- 7 "In Figiifi theitrwoateeth of locking comb engaging tfheiunits and-tens figure wheels ofthecountcr are'omitt edu-e- Therefore the lockingwill take 'pla'c'e:wh'en'the dollar wheel? show-"zero; while the balance (in cents asshown by the-units and: tens wheels) is left standing th he used aaemhenext setting.

When th registerhBa-i's locked, as abo've described, the regi'ster Twill also;be locked, because the whole "train o'fgearing is locked, andfurther rotationi of the-meter druniis preventedy andf when register Bis-reset ready for further operationsj'zregister T willalso bereadyiutoii'furtheroperations.

When the meter'adi'um is thus locked the machinei' is inoperativand mustbe taken to the post oflice1to2'be,reset. vWhen taken to the postofiicethe proper official unlocks the door-204 WhlChZqIBiOPGHS with a keyretained by thepost-oliiceidepartmentz After opening the meter c lrumdoor- 204 the oflicial 'resets the mechanism as described in myaforesaidapplicatioliu- While Ihavedescribed the multiple die as having:three printing surfaces; obviously the number of such? surfaces might bevaried accordingto' the desired capacity of the machine; Tn somecasestwosurfaces-might be sufficient; in others more than three might bereqni'iedf lnany case the number of the sets oi' 'teeth on-the gear- 301and the number-of cams and dwells on=thc earn 307 should accord-with thenumber and the denominations of the printing dies; i. 'e. there must besuch operative relations-between the printchine such as shown in myapplication Serial No. ($17,143, above referred to; theinven-x tion. isnot limited to use with such a machine, nor to use with the particularmeter, drum referred to, as it is readily adaptableor applicable toother meters and machines; as will be appreciated by those familiar withthe art. a

The adaptability and utility of the invention for other purposes in theart than merely printing postage, will be obvious to those. familiarwith the invention, and I, consider all such applications within thescope of; the.

invention as covered in the claims. 1,

I do not herein clainrthe particular con-I struction of the die, or theparticular means for locking same in adjusted positiomap'artt'rom theregistering mechanism. Thatrwill form the subject matter of a divisionalcoin panion application Serial" No, 659,237, tiled August 24 1923.

Vhat I claimiszr I. i

In mechanism of the'character spec fied having a rotatable drum, amulti-faced die rotatably mounted therein and means for ad-r jnsting'the; die to enableany printing sur face of the die to be brought toprinting posiflion at-t'he periphery of Ithe drum; n regis ter in thedrum; andvmeansfor rotating the drumato take/an impression from theprintingtsurface. at the periphery of the (11111115 31 master-wheel foroperating thev register;.- a, multiple gear adapted to operatethemaster'- gear, said multiple gear having -sets of-teetlr respecti-velcorresponding in number to;the denominations of the respective printing;surfaces of. the die, and; acamy member operatedby the shifting ofthe-diewherehy the multiple gear is shifted'avhenthe die is. shiftedthereby causing the'registerlito be operated'in accordance with thedenominas tion of: the adjusted dies:

2. In mechanism of1the character. specified having-a rotatable drum,anda-die mounted in the drum havinga plurality o'fcurved- 'seg mentsonits periphery, each bearinga stamp printingsurface; said (ll-8; being'rotatorially adjustable on its axis to bring any one oi the segmentalprinting-surfacest o operative, osition; arregisteri mounted, in I thedrum. ad; jacent't-he die, means for rotating the drum to takimpressions from the die, andmeans whereby the adjustment ot the diewill cause the register to-be operated in accordance with thedenomination ofthe adjusted die.

3. In mechanism rotthe character specified having a die provided with aplurality of printing surfaces and rotatable on its own axis to bringany printing surface thereon to printing position; and means for movingthe die bodily through an orbit at each printing operation; a register,a master wheel for operating the register; a multiple gear adapted tooperate the master gear, said multiple gear having sets of teethrespectively corresponding in number to the denominations of therespective printing surfaces of the die; and means whereby when the dieis shifted to change the denomination of the die from which impressionis taken, the multiple gear is also shifted to bring the proper set ofteethinto proper engagement with the master gear to actuate the registerin accordance with the denomination of the adjusted die.

4. In mechanism of the character specified having a die provided with aplurality of printing surfaces and rotatable on its own axis to bringany printing surface thereon to printing position; and means for movingthe die through an orbit at each printing operation; a register movablethrough the orbit with the die; a master wheel for operat ing theregister; a multiple gear adapted to operate the master gear, saidmultiple gear havin sets of teeth respectively corresponding in numberto the denominations of the respective printing surfaces of the die; andmeans whereby the shifting of the die Will cause the multiple gear to beshifted to bring the proper set of teeth into proper engagement with themaster gear, whereby the register is actuated in accordance with thedenomination of the adjusted die.

5. In a machine of the character specified,

having a rotatable meter drum, a die mount-.

ed in said drum having a plurality of circumferentially arrangedprinting surfaces and adjustable on its own axis to bring any of itssegments to printing position, and means for rotating the 'drum; asingle register in the drum, variable gearing, and means whereby theadjustment of the die causes the said register to be operated inaccordance with the denomination printed by the adj usted die.

6, In a machine of the character specified having a rotatable meterdrum; a die mounted in said drum having a plurality of circumferentiallyarranged printing surfaces and rotatorially adjustable on its own axisto bring any of said surfaces to printing position; and means forrotating the drum to taken an impression from the surface in printingposition; a register in the drum, variable gearing for opera-ting theregister upon the rotation of the drum, and means whereby the adjustmentof the dies causes the gearing to be varied so that the register will beoperated in accordance with the denomination of the adjusted die. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY.

